Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Why do you run others down, people of the world?
The emptiness of the one who tears others down soon shows itself.
I have thought it through, says Ravidas. The one who keeps tearing others down ends up in a dark, unhappy place.
This is the very last verse of Raag Gond, and Ravidas ends with a question for everyone.
Nindaa kahaa karahu sansaaraa — why do you run others down, people of the world? Nindak kaa pargat paahaaraa — the emptiness of the one who runs others down soon shows. Ill-will cannot stay hidden. Sooner or later it gives itself away.
Ravidas says he has thought it through. The verse ends by sending the nindak, the one who tears others down, to narak, a place of great pain. Under that picture is a turning: do not be that person. Choose to bless people instead of blaming them.
Think of a group chat. The one who always posts mean jokes about others soon stands out, and people stop trusting them. The one who cheers others on is the one people want near. Raag Gond began with songs about where to place your hope. It ends with a song about guarding your words. Both are about where you aim your heart.
What is one kind word you could choose today instead of a critical one?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI